Lot's Wife: lessons and themes from her story

This month’s study is on Lot’s Wife. She is mentioned briefly in Genesis, but her story still resonates with people today. From Genesis, we learn that she was married to Lot, Abraham’s nephew and together, they had amassed a fortune in land and livestock. They settled in Sodom, a city so wicked that God would later send angels to investigate. Her life in Sodom, she was a prosperous woman who may have been more attached to the good life than what was good for her. There is no indication that she participated in the sin of Sodom, but her story implies she had tolerated it. Her heart was possibly divided. She hated the sin but loved the comfortable life she had in Sodom. What is the significance of salt in the story? What does her story tell us about God’s mercy?

The story of Lot’s wife opens as Lot encounters God’s angels at the city gates. He implored them to stay at his house for the night. Later that night, angry voices came to the house as an ugly clamor of men tried to push their way into the house. They demanded the guest to be released to them. The Bible does not reveal what Lot’s wife was doing, feeling or thinking at the situation. But I think we can safely assume she was terrified. After Lot tried to bargain and reason with the mob, the angels pulled him back in the house and told Lot, his wife and daughters, to leave Sodom immediately as God’s judgment was coming to Sodom. The angels warned the family not to look back on the city as it was being destroyed. Genesis 19:26 says “But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” Why did she turn despite the angels’ warning? We don’t know but something caused her to stop, pause, turn and take one look.

As Lot’s wife is remembered less for who she was: a wife and mother, and more for what she became: a pillar of salt, there must be significance to her story. Salt is one of the world’s most common and most used chemicals. Salt is used to season, cleanse and purify. The Hebrews saw the value in salt and used it in many areas of life. They used it to season their food (Job 6:6). They also rubbed their babies with it (Ezekiel 16:4). Salt was also a required supplement to Old Testament grain sacrifices (Leviticus 2:13). Salt is also used six times in the New Testament. Believers are called the salt of the earth by Jesus in Matthew 5:13, Mark 9:50, and Luke 14:34. In Luke 17:32, Jesus calls us to remember Lot’s wife. In verse 33, he says, “Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”  It is a warning against false security. Lot’s wife turned back because she wanted one last look at all she lost. The comfortable house and all the trappings she had in the city. Despite the danger to her life, she still wanted the physical things she left behind.

The tragedy of her story is she ultimately refused God’s mercy and attempts her save her. God’s mercy was available to her as Genesis 19:16 says “for the Lord was merciful to them” and his mercy is always available to all of us. Even during difficult times, like now as the world deals with the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting quarantine, even in the worst times, the most difficult situation and the hardest circumstances, he is there stretching out his hand to lead us to safety. We have become creatures of comfort. In our society, it is rare to find someone who isn’t attached to certain comforts. They may even be thought of as weird. Although, in my experience, when someone says they have no attachment to physical items or comforts, it is usually a lie as no one is completely with some form of attachment, whether it be to something or someone Test your level of attachment. By carving out time away from work, TV, the phone, the internet, anything that can distract you from God. Set aside time and a place in your home, even if its for a few minutes, for silent prayer.

In conclusion, Lot’s wife turned back to look at the smoldering city. Clinging to the past, she was unwilling to turn completely away and accept her new future. Are you looking back longingly at an old life while trying to move toward God? Is there anything in your past that God is urging you to let go? I know I do. It is a daily struggle and a daily prayer for the strength to finally let go. Sometimes I can and sometimes memories of good times pull me to that desire again. I know like a father with his child, God will continue to help me with this lesson. You can’t make progress with God and in your future, if you are holding onto pieces of your old life. Seek out God and his mercy. He will help you turn away from your old life and find a new life in him.